Atomic Cup
R/CU's 50th anniversary season kicks off in sunny Tri-Cities
Saturday testing photo album from Digital Roostertails / Chris Denslow available HERE
Sunday photo album from Digital Roostertails / Chris Denslow available HERE
Unfortunately, there are no videos available from this race.
The Meyers Autotech Championship Series Powered by Rattlesnake RC began the 50th anniversary season for R/C Unlimiteds with the season-opening Atomic Cup at Two Rivers Park in Finley, WA. Mother Nature smiled upon the racers, with two days of sunshine and calm waters to shake off the winter rust. After a long offseason, the club was chomping at the bit to get going for 2024, with 62 entries over the four classes of hydroplanes for the Atomic Cup.
1/10th Scale Electric Juniors Final
1st: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Lexy Brandt
2nd: 1983 Miss Houston, Alex Barisic
3rd: 1974 Miss U.S., Brooklyn Kinney
4th: 1955 Such Crust, Dray Newton
With eight 1/10th scale boats in the pits, R/CU elected to split the junior racers from the not-so-junior racers. The juniors quickly made it clear that they weren't to be messed around with! Lexy Brandt collected her first victory of the year with the Speedy Printing, just ahead of Alex Barisic and Brooklyn Kinney. Rookie Dray Newton, son of David, rounded out the field in his first R/CU race.
1/10th Scale Electric Veterans Final
1st: 1961 Supertest, Brad Lewis
2nd: 2007 Oh Boy! Oberto, Mike Dunn
3rd: 20?? Wiggins Racing, Jason Colean
4th (DNF): 2016 Miss Homestreet Bank, KC Andres
The roundnose Supertest had the speed over the rest of the field alld day, but struggled to stay upright on the water prior to the final. Lewis pedalled the boat expertly in the final, taking the victory over Mike Dunn (in his first race, from California!) and Jason Colean.
Gas Scale Consolation
1st: 1962 Miss Bardahl, Ken Boyle
2nd: 1984 Risley's Express, Derek Pierce
3rd: 1967 Miss Bardahl, Monte Hopkins
4th (DNS): 1969 Pay'n Pak (Hooktail), Ken Olson
5th (DNS): 1983 American Speedy Printing (Blue), Bill Brandt
The Speedy might have been the favorite based on the speed it has showed in the last year, but with the boat going dead in the mill the consolation was up for grabs. Ken Boyle took advantage with his lightning-quick Bardahl, adavancing to the final.
Gas Scale Final
1st: 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Dave Brandt
2nd: 1983 American Speedy Printing (Red), Mike Malloy
3rd: 1962 Miss Bardahl, Ken Boyle
4th: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord
5th: 1978 Miss Mark and Pak, Jim Whyte
6th (DNF): 1977 Charlie's Girl, Mike Henriksen
The Charlie's Girl nailed the start and was battling for the lead with Dave Brandt and the ever-present Rock. In the right turn both boats hit a large hole, with the Charlie's girl flipping as a result. Dave Brandt grabbed his first win of the season, with Mike Malloy taking a 2nd place with a brand-new boat and the trailer Bardahl coming up to finish 3rd.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Consolation
1st: 1975 Miss Technicolor, KC Andres
2nd: 1971 Hallmark Homes (Red/White), Jim Brittain
3rd: 1972 Notre Dame, Lexy Brandt
4th: 1980 Miss Budweiser, Jacob Jones
5th: 1974 Miss U.S., Jeriann Kinney
6th (DNS): 1981 Captran Resorts, Jason Colean
With a robust 16 boat field, it was a challenge just to make the consolation heat! KC Andres took the early lead and outlasted the rest of the field, advancing to the final over the roundnost Hallmark and a variety of conventional hulls behind.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Final
1st: 1984 Atlas Van Lines, David Newton
2nd: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord
3rd: 1984 Team Velocity, Mike Henriksen
4th (DNF): 1973 Miss Budweiser, Bobby Colean
5th (DNF): 1975 Miss Technicolor, KC Andres
6th (DNF): 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Rich Matkin
7th (DNF): 1983 American Speedy Printing, Paxton Reunanen
Paxton's new Speedy was the first to flip, discarding the cowling alongside. This presented a challenge for several boats, and contributed to some of the attrition in the heat. Up front, it was perhaps an unusual site, as David Newton showed up with the Atlas Van Lines that Don Mock campaigned for so many years. However, the Atlas is still fast, and David is still a top driver, and he claimed the first race of the season.
1/8th Scale Nitro Consolation
1st: 1978 Squire Shop (U-64), Aidyn Brandt
2nd: 2011 Lakeridge Paving, Gary Grembowski
3rd (DNF): 1974 Lincoln Thrift, Paxton Reunanen
4th (DNF): 1974 Miss U.S., Steven Kinney
5th (DNF): 1988 Miss Stroh's Light, Scott Meyers
6th (DNF): 1987 Eliminator, Bill Brandt
It was a chaotic start, as the Stroh's rode up a roostertail and stuffed right in front of the Miss U.S., which clipped it and sent it skyward as well. Thankfully, both boats emerged with minor (as opposed to major) damage. The young phenom, third-generation racer Aidyn collected the victory with a smart drive, advancing to the final.
1/8th Scale Nitro Final
1st: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain
2nd: 1978 Squire Shop (U-64), Aidyn Brandt
3rd (DNF): 1983 American Speedy Printing, Mike Malloy
4th (DNF): 1971 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Brent Edinger
5th (DNF): 2016 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Putich
6th (DNF): 1978 Squire Shop (U-65), Dave Brandt
7th (DNF): 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Geoffry Grembowski
The nitro final turned out to be more chaotic than planned as well. The Rock went over first, causing several near-misses on the front stretch. Up front, Jim Putich nailed the start, and the Oberto led for 3 full laps! As Jim battled Dave Brandt and the Squire Shop, luck turned sour and the Oberto spun/crashed simultaneously with the Squire Shop. That doesn't take away from an impressive run and shots fired that the Putich camp continues to improve year-to-year. With all of the carnage, it vaulted the Oberto of Jim Brittain and Mike Malloy with the Speedy into a battle for the lead. Coming to the white flag, the Speedy tried to jump the roostertail of the Oberto and flipped. Jim Brittain came around to take his first career nitro victory, with Aidyn taking a best finish of his young career in second.
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April 12-14
Location: Two Rivers Park, Finley, WA
Previous Race Winners:
Race held in Two Rivers Park, Finley, WA 2001-present
Race held in Columbia Park, Kennewick, WA 2000
Current-2020, winners shown as nitro // FE // gas
-2024: Jim Brittain (1982 Oh Boy! Oberto) // David Newton (1984 Atlas Van Lines) // Dave Brandt (1983 KISW Miss Rock)
-2023: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop U-65) // Rob Brackett (2011 Graham Trucking) // Scott Meyers (1990 Infinity Car Audio)
-2022: Fred Olson (1966 Miss Bardahl) // Rob Brackett (2008 Formulaboats.com II) // Dave Brandt (1983 KISW Miss Rock)
-2021: Kirk Maupin (1976 Miss Vernors) // Bill Brandt (1987 Eliminator) // Dave Brandt (1982 Gilmore Special)
-2020: Race cancelled due to COVID-19
2013-2019, winners shown as nitro // FE
-2019: Kirk Maupin (1976 Miss Vernors) // Rob Brackett (2008 Formulaboats.com II)
-2018: Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame) // Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame)
-2017: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products) // Rob Brackett (2011 Valken Sports)
-2016: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream) // Rob Brackett (2011 Valken Sports)
-2015: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) // Rob Brackett (2008 Formulaboats.com)
-2014: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) // Bob Brackett (2011 Graham Trucking)
-2013: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) // John Olson (1997 Close Call)
Prior to 2013, only nitro class run
-2012: Dave Brandt (2008 Miss Elam Plus)
-2011: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products)
-2010: David Newton (1993 Miss Budweiser)
-2009: David Newton (2008 Spirit of Detroit)
-2008: Scott Meyers (1994 Miss Exide)
-2007: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2006: Dave Blacksten (1998 Llumar Window Film)
-2005: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2004: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2003: Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines)
-2002: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2001: Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines)
-2000: David Jensen (1969 Pride of Pay 'N Pak)